AEM urges President Obama to Reconsider Pipeline Decision

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has expressed its disappointment in the Obama administration’s announcement that it will not approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

AEM President Dennis Slater said, “At this moment in our history when so many Americans need jobs, we cannot afford to reject these types of expensive large-scale infrastructure projects.

The pipeline is expected to create more than 120,000 jobs, including more than 20,000 high-wage jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries where the unemployment rate is staggering. Those who continue to be unemployed do not have the luxury of putting off paying their bills until after the November election is over.”

AEM joined other construction and business groups in an industry call to action letter last week that urged the administration to approve the pipeline, citing the important job creation opportunity and the ability for the completed pipeline to help provide a stable supply of North American energy to American consumers.

“The President’s own jobs council has said that now is the moment to go 'all in' on projects of this kind, so it’s mind-boggling to get a negative decision like this one,” said Slater.

The Keystone XL could provide 4 million barrels a day by 2020, twice what the U.S. currently imports from the Persian Gulf, Slater noted.

Slater said the project will “help provide a stable supply of North American energy to America consumers …. (as) recent tensions in the Middle East and concern over the safety of the Straits of Hormuz necessitate that the United States enact sound energy policies that focus on expanding North American energy supplies and maintaining stable prices for American consumers.”